MORNING BRIEFING: A woman is charged after allegedly driving while almost nine times over the legal blood alcohol limit, and the NSW Government introduces fines of up to $440,000 for animal rights activists trespassing on farms.

MORNING BRIEFING: A pair of boys are "met by their parents and spoken to by police" after climbing a 111-metre communications tower, and 21 people are charged after a violent riot and police siege at a youth detention centre.

Felicity Urquhart was meant to be celebrating her first solo album Frozen Rabbit with her husband Glen Hannah, but a month after its release, he took his own life.

The father of murder victim Danielle Easey says he is waiting to come face-to-face with the man accused of the violent death of his daughter whose body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a Newcastle creek.

The A-League is back, with a brand new team and a whole host of new players. Check out our comprehensive preview ahead of the season kick-off.

MORNING BRIEFING: Dozens of firefighters from South Australia head to New South Wales as back-up for weary RFS workers, and two people are fined after a banner is hung from the Harbour Bridge.

The Melbourne derby ends in a scoreless draw as the Victory host City at Docklands in the opening round of the A-League, while the Wanderers celebrate a 2-1 triumph over the Mariners at their new home ground.

Sydney's iconic Sirius building is sold for $150 million to developers who plan to refurbish the existing building and deliver 89 apartments, along with retail and commercial spaces.

Norm Henderson knows what it's like to be in the darkness of drug addiction, but even he has been surprised by the grip ice has on smaller towns and communities.

AFL great Neale Daniher is named the 2019 Victorian of the Year in recognition of his advocacy to find a cure for the fatal motor neurone disease he was diagnosed with six years ago.

It's not just stockbrokers who are watching the China and US trade war Australia's wool market has fallen to its lowest level in a year-and-a-half due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

A Victorian dairy lobby group calls for the New South Wales Government to stop subsidising the cost of transporting fodder.

NSW government-owned energy supplier Essential Energy is expected to cut 165 across regional New South Wales, according to the Electrical Trades Union.

Alexei Popyrin took a set off 11th seed Daniil Medvedev but lost in four sets.

The world number one and French Open champion lost 3-6 6-2 6-3 in a ferocious battle with 55th-ranked American Alison Riske.

The Australian called the loss 'tough' but says she has no regrets in her preparation after she crashed out of Wimbledon.

Brody Finlay hadn't auditioned for Baz Luhrmann's next project, and was surprised when the director's office contacted him.

The largest study of country newspapers ever undertaken in Australia is hoping to develop sustainable models that can help the declining regional media landscape survive into the future.

Industry groups estimate a majority of sheep farmers are using pain relief when mulesing stock, but Victoria looks set to become the first state to make the practice mandatory.

About 600 million people were glued to the television in awe of the first moon landing, but for Ben Lam and David Cooke it was just another day at the office.

When Kevin Gallegos carpooled to work one cold Canberra morning the day ahead wouldn't be typical he and the rest of the team at the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station would be instrumental in bringing live footage of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon back to Earth.

For the first time two overall winners have won the prestigious David Malin Awards which honours the best in Australian astrophotography.

The NSW Government introduces fines of up to $440,000 and possible jail time for animal rights activists illegally entering farms.

Despite a tightening supply and smaller yields due to dry conditions, the value of Australia's wine exports has continued to grow.

Across New South Wales and Queensland's southern downs, country towns are approaching day zero, as water supplies dry up in the drought.

Pig producers in New South Wales battle a combination of factors that have seen up to 80 per cent of them selling all their pigs and leaving the industry.

The dairy industry has welcomed a surprise move, first by Aldi, then Woolworths and Coles, to raise the retail price of their home brand milk.

Like most country racetracks, Tomingley's isn't irrigated.

Michael Hackett doesn't remember much about his first race. He doesn't remember a thing about his last either.

Park benches in neighbourhood parks across the country are being painted bright red to encourage people to take a stand against domestic violence.

How do you fight fires in a state that is 98 per cent in drought and short on water? It's a question being pondered by firefighters on the verge of fire season.

Caroline Harte is mostly confined to her bed after a fall at work. While her insurer completes modifications to her home she sleeps next to a portable toilet and shower.

Golf clubs around the country are failing to meet the needs of modern consumers and as a result memberships are at an all-time low.

Towns in regional NSW experience snowfall for the first time in 20 years as a deep polar vortex, which battered south-east Australia yesterday, moves north.

The Tristar Medical Group's chain of 50 clinics across regional Australia has been under "significant financial stress for 18 months" resulting in doctors often not being paid for weeks or months.